Safety device for presses or stamping machines



March 1, 1949. j J, w s 2,463,334

Y DEVICE FOR PRESSES 0R STAMPING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' SAFET Filed Dec. 3,- 1946 L INVENTOR f JOSEPH J. WARGAS ATI'ORNEY March 1, 19495 J. J. WARGAS' SAFETY DEVICE FOR PRESSES OR STAMPING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 194a INVENTOR JOSEPH J. WARGAS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1949 SAFETY DEVICE FOR PRESSES OR STAMPING MACHINES Joseph J. Wargas, Astoria, Long Island, N. Y. Application December 3, 1946, Serial No. 713,781

3 Claims.

This invention relates to safety devices for presses and stamping machines.

It is known to provide automatically operated safety gates or guards which are interposed between the operator and the descending punch for the purpose of brushing the operators hand out of the way. Such known safety devices suffer from the following disadvantages: (1) They are primarily designed for use with machines where the work does not require entire stamping operation, and hence do not permit manipulation of the work by the operator over substantially the entire cycle of stamping operations; (2) they are so constructed that the initial adjustment can be tampered with by the operator, and for this reason cause injury to the operators hands; and (3) in the case where safety devices swing in an arcuate path they enable the operators fingers to be caught between the stamping parts for certain positions of the operators hands.

The present invention is a safety device which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages. It is primarily designed for use in a foot-operated press where the work is small and must be held down by the hand of the operator at all times while the ram is descending and until the punch operation is completed.

More specifically, the safety device of the invention comprises a sliding metallic block-like guard which moves horizontally in response to movement of the punch and slides within a pair of spaced guides. This guard is positioned in a plane immediately above the die and is provided at its end nearest the stamping parts with a pair of vertically arranged but horizontally spaced plates which enable the punch to descend into the space between the plates. As the spaced plates approach the stamping parts during the descending position of the punch, they brush away the fingers of the operator from the location between the stamping parts. The dimensions of the plates and the limit of movement of the guard is such as to permit the fingers of the operator to hold a piece of work on both sides of the moving plates without danger to the fingers by the descending punch. The sliding guard is so arranged that it cannot be tampered with or adjusted from the front of the machine which faces the operator, and hence obviates a known cause of injury to the operator.

A more detailed description of the invention follows in conjunction with a drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a press provided with the safety feature of the invention;

handling during the iii) Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the press of Fig 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sliding guard showing the details of mounting the same.

Referring to the drawing in more detail, wherein the same parts are represented by the same reference numerals throughout the figures, Figs. 1 and 2 show a treadle-operated press or stamping machine having a bed I, a fiat base 2 adapted to rest upon the bed, and stamping parts composed of a die 3 and a punch or ram 4. The punch 4 forms part of a punch press of conventional construction and is caused to descend invresponse to movement of a treadle, in turn, linked to member 5.

The safety device of the invention comprises a metallic block 6 which is freely slidable in a horizontal direction within a pair of guides l, l, in turn, mounted and supported by a vertical metallic plate 8 secured at its base to the bed of the press by bolts l0. At the front end of the block 6 are two vertical and physically parallel plates 9, 9 which are spaced from each other a suificient distance to enable the punch 4 to pass therebetween in its descending travel. It should be noted that the block 6 is positioned slightly above the die 3. Passing through the block 6 at a location intermediate its ends is a pin II which engages the sides of a slot 12 arranged longitudinally in a lever it. This lever is pivotally mounted at M to the stationary frame of the press. The upper end of lever I3 is provided with a cam surface I5 which engages cam surface I6 of the descending portion of the press. A spring I1 is fastened at one end to a screw H3 at the upper end of the lever I 3 and is fastened at its other end to a screw IS on the stationary frame of the press, thus exerting a force on lever it which tends to maintain the lever l3 in the position shown in Fig. 1,

The press shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed for use in stamping small parts, such as the prong of a buckle to the buckle itself. A buckle prong to be stamped is shown upon the die 3 in Fig. 1 and is labeled 28. During the stamping operation, the buckle is held by the fingers of the operator on opposite sides of the die so that it maintains a desired position relative to the curved end of the buckle prong while the ram or punch descends. It is important during this stamping operation that the fingers of the operator be protected from danger and prevented from being caught between the punch 4 and the die 3 or the work.

In operation, as the punch descends in response to the foot pressure of the operator upon the 3 treadle, the descending cam IE will force the upper end of the lever I 3 to the left (note Fig. 1). Since lever I3 is pivoted at M, the lower end of this lever [3 will travel to the right and, through the medium of pin I I, slide the guard 6 to the right toward the stamping parts. The vertical plates 9, 9 are curved at their ends and brush away the fingers of the operator if they should be positioned between the punch' 4 andthe die .35" The spacing between the plates 9,'- 9 enables the punch 4 to descend and contact the work. When the foot 7 treadle is released, the punch will be raised and permit the lever |3 to assume its .oniginal: posi-- tion shown in Fig. 1. guard 6 will move to the left. It will thus be seen that there is a reciprocating sliding motion on the part of guard 6 which is automatic in-- response to movement of the punch.

The position of guard 6 and the dimensions -01- the elements 9, 9 and F3 are so related that the fingers of the-operator-are protected from injury during the descending travel of the pun'chnM, While permittin the-fingers of the'operators right hand to straddle the guard and hold the: work safely;

The mountingl Of'thesafety guard plate from the rear by means of bolts l0; l0 discourages tamperingwith the adjustment by the operator.

What is claimed .is

1.. In apress havinga Punch intermittently operatingjabove a stationary die, a. safety'guard positionedi above-said die, means for. reciprocating'said guard horizontally in a straight line abovesaid idle for protecting: the fingers of the operator from injury, a pair of horizontally spaced hollow guides enabling said guard to, slide therein, va vertical metallic mounting plate sup;- porting saidfguides from the rear,v andmeans in the: rear of said mounting plate for securing the same: to said press, said guard comprising a-pair of vertica-l plates located atthe end nearest said punch anddie, said 'pairof. Vertical plates being parallel and horizontally positioned apart adistance'suflicient to enable the punch todescend therebetween, the movement. of said guard being such as to causesaid pair of plates to assume a position on both sides of said punch as it nears said: die;

2;. Ina foottoperated press having a-stationary die. and a movable. coacting punch, the-combinationwith a guard reciprocating in a straight-line As the punch ascends; the' at right angles to the motion of said punch, said guard being positioned in a line slightly above said die, a pairof spaced par-allelmetallic plates fastened to the end of said guard nearest said die, said plates being spaced apart a, sufiicient distance to enable said punch to descend therebetween and contact the work on the die, the movement of said guard being such as to cause said: plates to assume .a :positionvomboth sides of said punch as itnears-said d-ie, means for holding said guard away from said die when said punch is not in operation, and means responsive to the operation of said press for moving said guard-toward said die and punch.

3. Ina foot operated press having a stationary die and a movablecoacting punch, the combination" with.aaguard=reciprooating in a straight line at right angles to the motion of said punch, said guard being positioned in a line slightly above said die, a pair of spaced parallel metallic platest fastenedxto the end" of said guard nearest said die, said plates being spaced apart -a -.sufi"1=- cien-t.,distanceto; enable' said'punch .todescend therebetween and contact the work on thee-die,

the. ends a of; said plates being. curved, aleveri pivotedi at a locationintermediate-its endsandxhaving; :one; end engaging sai-d guardlby means of; a pin and slot arrangement, a spring fastened to theiother end of said lever and'exerting pressure on said. lever-in such' direction" as to hold said guard away from said. die, when said press is not operation; and means: on said press. for opposing-th'e pressure of: said; spring: andfor moving sai-clqlever' in" a: directionopposite to saidfirstcdirectiongto cause'movement" of said guard: toward said die in response to the operation of said press.

JOSEPH J.v WARGASL' 7 REFERENCES CITED UNITED' STATES PATENTS. f.

Number Name Date 1,671,901; Ischi'nger' May 29,1928 FOREIGN: PATENTS Number Country Date 6,470: Austria July 1,. 1901 246 545 Ital-y Mar. 30, 1926 340,089: I Germany; Sept. 2;;1921 

